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Editorial Reviews

Railroad Earth is a roots and Americana-based jamband from Stillwater, NJ. Their name stems from a Jack Kerouac poem "October in the Railroad Earth," and the band has a song by the same name. Railroad Earth's music combines elements of bluegrass, rock and roll, jazz, celtic and more, and the group is known for its extensive live improvisation and lyrical songwriting within an acoustic base. The Amen Corner album features songs such as "Been Down This Road," "Waggin' The Dog," and "Lovin' You."

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

This roots/Americana band has done it again. If you're familiar with their previous albums or their live shows, this will be something new and exciting for you. Starting with the first track, "Been Down this Road," the entire album has a wonderful homey feel to it. It's as if the members of the band are comfortable with each other, as they should be after so many years. From the track "Right in Tune":"I got no worries, I got no doubts'Cause I know we got it all worked outYou know your part and I know mineAnd we're right in tune, me and you."As on their older albums, each song has a strong feel of optimism. Master songwriter Todd Sheaffer has written some of his best songs to date for this album. With the addition of RRE's classic ability to masterfully orchestrate their songs (the driving sax on "Hard Livin'", the fabulously understated vocal harmony on "Been Down This Road", the floating lyricism of the mandolin on "Lonecroft Ramble"), the songs gain unparalleled life and emotion.That said, some songs are better than others. "All Alone", while a great song, is sung with an undeniable channeling of Jerry Garcia. Some people might enjoy hearing a new Jerry tune, but it seems to betray RRE's ability to go in their own direction.Still, when considering the album as a whole, this is the band's best work yet. It's sure to satisfy anyone that enjoys acoustic music or wants to hear some great musicianship.

I had to smile when I read Microborg's review, because I agree with it just about 100 percent, but one of my few differences of opinion concerns exactly where Todd seems to be channeling Jerry. Micro believes it's on "All Alone," which I think has Jeff Tweedy and Wilco written all over it! Great song, regardless. But when I first heard "You Never Know," I had to re-read the liner notes to make sure that RRE hadn't coaxed Garcia back for one last vocal encore! I STILL hear Jerry singing everytime I listen to that song. But, then again, I've believed that these boys have a definite Grateful Dead vibe from the first time I heard them, and every show I've gone to has only confirmed that.

There are no songs anything less than brilliant on this record, but two of them stand out for me. "Forecast" has an incredible instrumental hook, and I can't wait to hear where (and how far) they take this tune when they play it live.

"Little Bit O' Me" just blew me away from the get-go. I received a review copy of "Amen Corner" about 2 weeks before my daughter's graduation from college. I popped it in the CD player for my drive home from work, and by the time "Little Bit" was over, I literally was sitting in traffic with a smile on my face and tears rolling down my cheeks. It brought back all those memories and emotions a father feels during those milestone events in his children's lives. Twenty-two years of special moments just came flooding back. I still well up a little bit when I hear that song. I know Todd was inspired by the recent birth of his own child, and I hope he knows how universal his sentiments are, and how special that song is for all dads out here! Thanks, Todd!

All I can say about this album and this band is that they give me goosebumps every single time I hear something new from them.

In my opinion, Railroad Earth is quite simply the most underappreciated band in music today. They are creating music, both live and on album, that rivals anything I've heard from any of my favorite decades of music.

As a person who grew up listening to Neil Young, Bob Dylan, The Band and The Rolling Stones in my earliest years, and then U2, REM, Pearl Jam and many more in my twenties, I think Railroad Earth's music lives comfortably within this level of musical artistry.

Amen Corner is just another example of what Railroad Earth has to offer to the music world. I feel blessed to have this band in my life!

Railroad Earth's most recent release (June 10), Amen Corner, was recorded in a 300-year-old farmhouse in the boonies of New Jersey (yes, they have farms in New Jersey), and is possibly their best effort yet beginning to end.

Amen Corner is one of those albums that takes a while to percolate. On first listen, nothing really stood out from the rest other than the fast-paced "Crossing the Gap," which not only is solid musically, but the lyrics hit home as well (a song about coming home from a long journey and looking across the Gap to Jersey). But after a few listens, I grew to love this album and haven't taken it out of rotation for several reasons.

First, it seems (to me at least) that this album is more mandolin-driven, which is a huge positive. Mandolin player John Skehan has always been very talented, but his picking shines through in this album more so than any previous album (to me, previous albums were more fiddle-driven). I love me some fiddle, and RRE's Tim Carbone is one of the best, but it's good to break it up once in a while. Skehan especially shines on the sole instrumental track on Amen Corner: "Lonecroft Ramble."

Second, lead vocalist Todd Sheaffer's songwriting is as good as ever. He's a master at crafting catchy, upbeat songs, and his opening lyrics on the album's first track "Been Down This Road" set the welcoming tone for the rest of the album: "Come around Amen Corner and there she's standing in the door/Staring in the eyes of my poor soul." "Right in Tune," Little Bit O' Me,"and "Lovin' You" are also standouts lyrically.Read more ›